Automatic temperature regulated narcosis apparatus



E. SILTEN 243365140 E REGULATED NARCOSIS APPARATUS July 6, 1937.

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATUR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1

INVENTOR.

K I ,nqplllllllln III. I

ATTORNEY.

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Patented July 6, 1937 zssau PATENT AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE REGULATEDNAROOSIS APPARATUS Ernst Silten, Berlin, Germany 18 Claims.

This invention relates to inhalation devices, more particularly to anapparatus for the inhalation of medicinals, anesthetics and the like,and for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract.

Various devices for the inhalation of preheated air or other gases andvapors have been known. Such devices include a chamber with electricalheating means. In the chamber the gases or vapors to be heated arebrought to the desired temperature, or liquids, such as ether maybevaporized or gasified therein. However, such prior art devices have thedifiiculty that the temperature cannot be regulated, resulting in largetemperature changes. This is very disadvantageous in anesthetic devicesin which ether or other anesthetics are vaporized. The anesthetic isthereby supplied in greatly varying amounts, requiring varying amountsof heat for vaporiza- As a result, by the application of large amountsof anesthetic, the desired temperature is not obtained, and When smallamounts are applied there is the danger of overheating.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus of this type in whichthe temperature is selfregulated and which is adjustable to the desiredpoint. The regulationmay take place in any suitable manner, as by anexpansion or a bimetallic regulator device in combination with aspark-free switch member for controlling the heating current to cut itofi when the desired, adjusted temperature is reached, and to close thecircuit assoonas the temperature has dropped slightly.- I

In the accompanying drawings, constituting a part hereof, and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus made in accordancewith this invention, some parts being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an enlargedcross-sectional View of a device made inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modified form of 5 apparatus.

- Figure 4 is --a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line46 of Figure 3, and,

-Figure 5 is a similar view taken along the line I, and a cover 8.Secured to the inlet opening 4 is a Casing 9, provided with a funnel it)for the introduction of suitable substances into the ap; paratus.

The casing 9 is held in position on the plate I I whichconstitutes thebottom thereof. Within the casing is a plate l2 having an opening l3communicating with opening 4, and provided with a valve l4 normally heldin position by a spring i5. A metal tube l6, having a relatively highcoefiicient of expansion, is secured toa support H attached to the platel2. ,An'inclined surface or plane 18, is provided at the inner upperedge of the tube I6, making contact with the end of a screw l9, held inblock 25 to which is attached a depending stem 2|, usually made ofglass. The stem is fused at point 22 into the sealed glass tube 29 fromwhich the air has been exhausted and which is preferably under a vacuum.The lower end of tube 23 is held by suitable material 24 rigidly securedto the base. In the bottom of said tube are electrodes 25 and 26, havingcontact members 2! for closing the circuit. Electrode 26 has anextension 28 against which the head 29 of stem 2| normallyrests. Anelectrical heating arrangement is provided and consists of a coil 39 ofsuitable wire or the like,- held between insulating plates 3!, the wholebeing in proximity to the casing 9. Supports 32 hold the 001130 inproper position. The leadwire .33 from one end of the coil is attachedto fuse 36 from whicha wire 35 connects to electrode 26. The wire 36attached to electrode 25 passes through cable 31 and a wire 38 attachedto the opposite end of coil 30also is inserted into the cable which isconnected to a suitable source of electricity.

In the operation of the device, the mask is placed in position, thewires 36 and 38 are connected to a source of energy causing the coil 39to become heated. A suitable substance, such as ether, is-dropped intothe funnel l9 and by the breathing of the patient and the heat of thecoil, is vaporized and mixed with air passing through the space 39through valve l4 and into the mask. If desired, suitable fillingmaterial 390 may be placed in passage 39 to cause more uniform mixingand .more uniform heating of the gaseous mix ture. When the temperatureof the mixture has reached the proper point, the expansion of tube l6causes a movement of block 20 to the right, as tshown by the arrow,which causes a simul-- taneous movement of the head 29 in the oppositedirection, moving electrode 26 away from electrode 25. This breaks thecontact 21 and cuts off the current. Upon cooling, the reverse actiontakes place whereby the current is again caused to flow through thecoil. The temperature at which the gaseous mixture is to be maintainedmay be adjusted by turning the screw I9 in one direction or the other.

In the modified form, shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the funnel II] hasits lower end 40 connected to a coil of pipe M, the lower end 42 ofwhich is secured to a rubber tube 43, which may be secured to or inplace of the opening 4 of the mask 5. A rod 44, the lower end of whichis secured to a suitable base, is provided with a device 45 similar tothe arrangement of the vacuum tube 23 containing a switching device. Thetemperature sensitive element in this embodiment is somewhat difierentand consists essentially of a bar 46 similar to the ordinary bi-metallicstrips,

the free end of which carries a screw 41 which is attached to the block20.

The operation of the device is similar to that shown in the Figures 1and 2, with the difference that the mixture of air and ether or the likeinstead of travelling in the open space 39 is confined within the pipe4l. The regulation of the temperature is obtained by the movement of thebar 46 to the right or left as shown by the arrow, thus controlling thecontacts 21.

The heated inhalation apparatus of the'present invention containingtemperature regulation is superior to prior devices because of itsdefinitely greater safety and the simplicity of manipulation orhandling. The temperature need not be watched and the danger ofoverheating is entirely eliminated. By such regulation, the temperaturebecomes independent of the current in the heating means, which can bemade of greater capacity than heretofore. This has the considerableadvantage that in the use of ether as an anesthetic, for example, thelarge amounts of ether in the initial stages of anesthetization may beas readily vaporized and brought to the desired temperature as thesmaller amounts which are required to maintain the anesthetization inthe later stages. The temperature sensitive element is connecteddirectly to the switch avoiding the use of relays and the like.

While I have described my invention setting forth two specificembodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes in the construction and operation of my device maybe made. For instance, the materials may be difierent from thosedescribed the arrangement of the parts may be varied, the type andlocation of the heating element may be changed, the vacuum switch may bereplaced by another type of switch to accomplish the same purpose, theflow of the gases thru the device may be changed, and the connection tothe mask may be different. These and other changes in the details of myinvention may be introduced within the scope thereof, the inventionbeing defined in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, an enclosed switch in thecircuit of said element, and means in proximity to the path of flow ofsaid mixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain adesired temperature in said casing.

2. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, an enclosed switch in thecircuit of said element, and means in proximity to the path of flow ofsaid mixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain adesired temperature in said casing and means for regulating saidtemperature.

3. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, an enclosed switch in thecircuit of said element, and means in proximity to the path of flow ofsaid mixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain adesired temperature in said casing comprising a temperature sensitivedevice directly connected to said switch.

4. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, a switch enclosed in anevacuated chamber placed in the circuit of said element, and means inproximity to the path of flow of said mixture for automaticallyoperating said switch to maintain a desired temperature in said casing.

5. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseousmixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, a spark-free switch, in thecircuit of said element, and means in proximity to the path of flow ofsaid mixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain adesired temperature in said casing.

'6. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in said casing, an enclosed switch in thecircuit of said element, and means in proximity to the path of the ,flowof said mixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain adesired temperature in said casing and an outlet for gases and vaporssecured to a mask.

7. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in proximity to and within said casing, anenclosed switch in the circuit of said element and located within saidelement, and means in proximity to the path of the flow of said mixturefor automatically operating said switch to maintain a desiredtemperature in said casing.

8. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in proximity to and within said casing, anenclosed switch in the circuit of said element and located within saidelement, and means in proximity to the path of the flow of said mixturefor automatically operating said switch to. maintain a desiredtemperature in said casing comprising a temperature expansible member,an inclined plane and a contact member touching said plane and adaptedto operate said switch.

9. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in proximity to and within said casing, anenclosed switch in the circuit of said element and located within saidelement, and means in proximity to the path of the flow of said mixturefor automatically operating said switch to maintain a desiredtemperature in said casing comprising a bi-metallic strip and a contactmember touching said strip and adapted to operate said switch.

10. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, means for mixing saidgases and substances to provide a homogeneous gaseous mixture, anelectrical heating element in proximity to and Within said casing, anenclosed switch in the circuit of said element and located within saidelement, a passage for gases between said element and said switch, andmeans in proximity to the path of flow of said mixture for automaticallyoperating said switch to maintain a desired temperature in said casing.

11. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, an electrical heatingelement in proximity to and within said casing, an enclosed switch inthe circuit of said element and located within said element, a pipe forgases between said element and said switch and means for automaticallyoperating said switch to maintain a desired temperature in said casing.

12. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, an electrical heatingelement in proximity to and within said casing, an enclosed switch inthe circuit of said element and located within said element, a coiledpipe for gases between said element and said switch and means forautomatically operating said switch to maintain a desired temperature insaid casing.

13. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for introducinggases and vaporizable substances into the same, an electrical heatingelement in proximity to and within said casing, an enclosed switch inthe circuit of said element and located within said element, a passagefor gases between said element and said switch, and means forautomatically operating said switch to maintain a desired temperature insaid casing,

said passage having means for impedingthe flow of gases.

14. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for passing amixture of gases and vapors into the same, an electrical heating elevment in said casing, an enclosed switch in the circuit of said element,and means within said casing including a thermostat in the path of saidmixture for automatically operating said switch to maintain a constanttemperature of the gaseous mixture flowing through said casing.

15. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for passing amixture of gases and vapors into the same, an electrical heating elementin said casing and extending substantially theentire length thereof, anenclosed switch in the circuit of said element, and means within saidcasing including a thermostat in the path of said mixture forautomatically operating said switch to' maintain a constant temperatureof the gaseous mixture flowing through said casing.

16. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for passing amixture of gases and vapors into the same, an electrical heating elementin said casing, an enclosed switch in the circuit of said element, avalve at the gas outlet end of said casing, and means within said casingincluding a thermostat in the path of said mixture for automaticallyoperating said switch to maintain a constant temperature of the gaseousmixture flowing through said casing.

17. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for passing amixture of gases and vapors into the same, an electrical heating elementin said casing, an enclosed switch in the circuit of said element, andmeans substantially centrally located within said casing including athermostat in the path of said mixture for automatically operating saidswitch to maintain a constant temperature of the gaseous mixture flowingthrough said casing.

18. An inhalation apparatus comprising a casing, means for passing amixture of gases and vapors into the same,'an electrical heating elementin said casing, an enclosed switch in the circuit of said element, andmeans substantially centrally located within said casing including athermostat in the path of said mixture for automatically operating saidswitch to' maintain a constant temperature of the gaseous mixtureflowing through said casing and in contact with said switch operatingmeans.

ERNST SILTEN

